Down Under and out

THREE top NRL stars are set to snub Salford Reds next season and stay with their Aussie clubs. Reds' football director Steve Simms is in Australia on a scouting mission and has met with agents and players.

THREE top NRL stars are set to snub Salford Reds next season and stay with their Aussie clubs.

Reds' football director Steve Simms is in Australia on a scouting mission and has met with agents and players.

Simms has confirmed his interest in the Kiwi duo of Paul Whatuira and David Fa'loago along with Melbourne prop Brett White.

The Reds have also again been linked with Hazem El Masri at Canterbury.

Simms said: "All three players would interest me but from what I am told they're all set to re-sign for their clubs but there is nothing doing with El Masri.

"While out in Australia I've had the opportunity to speak with a number of players and agents as we prepare for next season.

"It's a case of coming out here early, seeing who's available and finding out who is keen on playing Super League. There are a few players I cannot name who could now become potential targets for us in the future.

"When I return, I will sit down with coach Karl Harrison and inform him what is likely to happen. The players we've been linked with would definitely interest me but, from what I understand, they will be re-signing."

Whatuira has won Premierships with two clubs, Penrith in 2003 and also with West Tigers. Fa'loago plays for South Sydney and White has been a key figure in the pack for the Melbourne Storm after making his senior debut two years ago.

While in Australia, Simms has spoken to Shaun McRae who is said to be disappointed at missing out on the Great Britain job.

Simms also caught up with Ian Millward and Graham Murray before a game featuring St George Illawarra. Simms will be back for the Good Friday derby with Warrington.

Threat

Injury-hit Warrington, meanwhile, have called up 18-year-old centre or back row forward Matty Blythe.

Anthony Jerram, 21, who has been with the club since joining them from amateur club Crosfields, is also in line to make his debut.

With eight players injured and second rower Ben Westwood facing the threat of suspension, coach Paul Cullen has also included in his 20-strong squad Andrew Bracek, Ben Harrison, Chris Riley, Mike Cooper and Kevin Penny, who have made just one substitute appearance between them so far this year.

Meanwhile, rejuvenated Oldham have hit back in a row about tonight's opening National League Two clash with Featherstone Rovers at Boundary Park.

Rovers' boss David Hobbs has suggested Oldham have brought the match forward from Friday to capitalise on Featherstone's long trek to the south of France last weekend for a Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth-round tie with Catalans Dragons.

He has also expressed his "disgust" at the Rugby League for approving Oldham's request. But Roughyeds chief executive Chris Hamilton said Hobbs's suggestion that the game had been changed deliberately was "inaccurate."

He added: "We talked to Featherstone about this before the third round on March 11 and to suggest we somehow have an unfair advantage is wide of the mark. given that Rovers played in France last Saturday and were back home before we played our tie at Keighley on Sunday."

Hamilton, who explained the game had been brought forward only because Boundary Park was not available to Roughyeds on Friday, added: "We're going into this game with three wins from the last four, not so long ago we couldn't win a raffle but that's sport for you and it just shows how things can turn around.

"We always knew we were heading in the right direction but this is a new start and it's going to be a real battle against a team who are strongly fancied for automatic promotion."